During pregnancy in Berlin there are a number of decisions to be made. When it comes to choices of midwife (Hebamme), some women choose to look specifically for a Beleghebamme to assist them in pregnancy, at the birth and once the baby is home. If you are unsure what a Beleghebamme is, you can read more about it in my post about how to find a midwife in Berlin.

How Much Does a Beleghebamme Cost?

Whilst the cost of care from a general midwife is covered by public health insurance (if you are privately insured, please speak to your individual insurer about your coverage), a use of a Beleghebamme is different. The cost of Beleghebammen varies depending on who you use, but expect the cost to be somewhere around €250 - 450 (I paid €350 for mine).

Does Health Insurance Cover the Cost of a Beleghebamme?

Part of the cost of a Beleghebamme is towards what is called a Rufbereitschaftspauschale. The Rufbereitschaftspauschale is the cost for your midwife being ''on call'' during your pregnancy, for when you go in to labour. As of January 2013, a number of the German health insurers now cover some of the cost of hiring a Beleghebamme, specifically towards the cost of this 'on call' charge.

Here is a list of some of the most popular health insurers that cover some of the charge of hiring a Beleghebamme*:

If your public health insurer isn't in this list and you want to know if they cover part of the cost of a Beleghebamme, write me a comment under this post, with the name of the insurance and I will see if I can find out for you.

As with all things, individual cases can be different, so call your insurance provider to find out what they will cover in your insurance. They will often be happy to send you a letter stating what is covered and many of the large insurers have people that speak English or ask a German-speaking friend or translator to call for you.

How Do I Get the Rufbereitschaftspauschale reimbursed?

The Rufbereitschaftspauschale will only be reimbursed once your baby has been born. When you pay your midwife, make sure to get a receipt for the payment and to keep it in a safe place. You need to send a copy of this receipt to your health insurance. Here is an example letter (in German) that can be sent to your insurer, along with the copy of the receipt. If you use this example, make sure to add your individual details and the contact details of your health insurance:Letter to health insurer for reimbursement of Rufbereitschaftspauschale example